Tourism and travel

Enjoy a wonderful family night out at the Whitey Bay Firework Display which takes place at Whitley Bay Links this upcoming Bonfire Night. Head to the North Tyneside coast for a fun, festive evening on November 1st and check out the vibrant firework display from 7pm onwards. Guests can enjoy fairground rides as well as food and drink available for all the family - and best part is that admission is FREE!

Open from 6pm, this event gives spectacular views over the Whitley Bay coastline and St. Mary’s Lighthouse so you and your family can watch as the sky is illuminated with bursts of colour and sparkle; the perfect way to get out on a cold autumn night. However, be sure to wrap up tightly and wear sensible footwear as the coastal climate can get a little chilly at this time of year.

Parking can be difficult so the event organisers advise planning your journey and getting there early for optimum access to the event. There is also some excellent public transport available nearby including a regular bus service and two Metro stations including Monkseaton and Whitley Bay which are located just a 10-15 minute walk away.

The Whitley Bay Links is one of Whitley Bay’s most notable landmarks with open views over the Whitley Bay beach and seafront; not to mention a fascinating history in North East culture. Previously owned by the Prior of Tynemouth in the 12th Century and temporarily used as a soldier camp during the 19th Century, The Links has seen a number of changes over the years.  Nearby attractions such as the old Spanish City and The Links Art Gallery have all been notable destinations for tourists and locals alike with various cafés and restaurants providing a unique dining experience with a view.

You can explore a number of up and coming seasonal goings-on at the North Tyneside coast this winter, with pantomimes and stage events taking place over the Christmas period at the Whitley Bay Playhouse as well as some fantastic activities and sights in the pretty nearby coastal town of Tynemouth. 

The science comedy phenomenon returns, and this time they're off the chart. Join acclaimed stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve 'Danger' Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney for graph-a-minute fun on an unprecedented linear scale.

What better way to celebrate the New Year than dining on SIX’s exquisite menu whilst overlooking the city’s skyline and quayside celebrations?

Starters

Pork and Black Mushroom Terrine, Potato Puree, Spiced Fruit Chutney
Hand Dived Scallops, Crispy Polenta, Pancetta Emulsion, Shoots
Heritage Beetroot Tarte Fine, Candied Smoked Almonds, Caramelised Goats Cheese (v)
Wood Pigeon, Piquillo Pepper, Slow Cooked Fennel, Date Sauce

Mains

Venison Loin, Prunes and Lentils, Venison Sausage Roll, Chard
Fillet of Halibut, Roasted Salsify and Jerusalem Artichokes, Samphire, Smoked Butter
Roast Peppered Rib of Beef, Beer Fondant Potato, Baby Leeks, Béarnaise Sauce
Jerusalem Artichoke and Elsdon Goats Cheese Ravioli, Crushed Squash, Hazelnut Butter Sauce (v)

Puddings

Champagne and Citrus Fruit Terrine, White Chocolate Granita
Iced Dark Chocolate Parfait, Pistachio Granola, Griotine Cherries
Selection of Northumbrian Cheeses, Millers Toast, Chutney and Fruits
Six’s Tiramisu

Booking between 5.30pm and 6.45pm - £49.95
Booking between 8.30pm and 10pm - £89.95 (served with Tattinger Champagne and amuse bouche on arrival. Coffee with petit fours following pudding. 

7.00 pm - 2.00 am
Dinner to be served at 8.00 pm prompt

Champagne on arrival

**
Spiced carrot and yoghurt soup 
**

8 Hour Slow Roasted Rare Fillet of Beef,
Allotment vegetables, parsley creamed potato and red wine reduction 

Vegetarian Option
Brie, Leek & Polenta Cake
Allotment vegetables, parsley creamed potato and red wine reduction 

**

Trio of desserts 
Chocolate and brandy mousse, lemon posset, warm apple and cinnamon crumble 

**

Selection of Continental and British Cheeses
Nut Bread & Homemade Chutney

**
Freshly filtered coffee & petit fours
**

Live entertainment, disco, crackers, midnight piper and late bar

£55.95 pp

See in the New Year at Hotel du Vin. 

Starters 
PAN SEARED SCALLOPS WITH PORK BELLY RAGOUT Sweetcorn chutney
PRESSED OX TONGUE&SLOW ROAST PARSNIP Gremolata dressing
SNAIL&MEATBALL RAGOUT Royale de Champignons
GARLIC VELOUTE Beenleigh blue cheese beignets
SEA BASS&OYSTER TARTAR, OSCIETRA CAVIAR Chive crème fraîche

Hendricks Gin, Tonic and Cucumber sorbet 

Main Course 
ROAST GUINEA FOWL BREAST&CONFIT LEG Fondant potato, jus rôti
HERB AND CRAB CRUSTED HALIBUT Mussels, prawns and tagliatelle with herb veloute
LOBSTER CASSOULET Poached native lobster in a rich white bean, tomato and smoked pancetta stew
FILLET OF BEEF&STILTON RAREBIT Pommes sarladaise, port wine reduction
MOROCCAN SPICED VEGETABLE TAGINE Apricot chutney, yoghurt flat breads 

Dessert 
BAKED ALASKA Vanilla ice cream, raspberry sorbet, sponge baked in Italian meringue
BANANA TARTE TATIN Rum and raisin sorbet
CHOCOLATE&TIRAMISU PARFAIT WHISKY JELLY Clementines, Drambuie Sabayon
SELECTION OF ARTISAN CHEESE Biscuits, chutneys and fruit

£99 per person
Dress code: Black Tie 
Includes canapes, champagne, 4-course dinner with tea, coffee and handmade truffles and live music. 

Start your New Year celebrations a little early with an indulgent Afternoon Tea in SIX. The Gramophone DJs will be adding some speakeasy flare to the occasion while you sit back and enjoy a glass of Champagne with our mouth-watering selection of cakes and pastries.

Selection of Finger Sandwiches
Fruit Scones with Local Jam & Clotted Cream
Praline Sponge, Dark Chocolate and Orange Cream
Mulled Pear Macaroon, Crème Fraiche
Black Forest Trifle, Brandied Cherries
Cranberry and Pistachio Layer Cake, Chantilly Cream  

Add your choice from our selection of Storm organic loose-leaf teas.

Classic Afternoon Tea - £19.95
Champagne Afternoon Tea - £27.95

Served between 12noon and 3pm  

Enjoy family fun at Newcastle United's New Year's Eve party night featuring Monty & Maggie, X-Box and games, party games, face painting and disco.

Hot Fork Buffet

Chicken Tikka Masala
Cottage Pie
Vegetable Lasagne
Hot Dogs, Fish Fingers
Chunky Chips
Rice & Peas  
**
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Lemon Cheesecake
Sticky Toffee Pudding

Entertainment, disco, bar

Adults £30.00 pp - FREE child under 16 years with every full paying adult. 
Under 12s £15
Under 3s FREE 

See in the New Year with a little sparkle at Hilton's Midnight Diamond Ball. Make your grand entrance on the red carpet and have your photograph taken before joining us for a champagne cocktail reception at 7:00pm, with dinner served at 7:30pm.

Enjoy fabulous entertainment from Super Nova, welcome in the New Year with a superb Piper and then dance the night away with our resident DJ until 2:00am. One lucky guest will win a diamond valued at over £1,000 in our Diamond Ball Draw. Bar closes at 1:30am, with carriages at 2:00am.

Why not stay over with us? Enjoy a refreshing sleep and an invigorating dip in our pool, followed by a well-deserved Breakfast at Hilton.

STARTERS
Tian of Smoked and Poached Salmon Served with king prawns and dill crème fraîche
Rosary Goat’s Cheese Tart Served with caramelised onions

SOUP
White Bean and Smoked Pancetta Soup Served with truffle oil

INTERMEDIATE COURSE
Champagne Granita with Crème de Cassis

MAIN COURSES
Roasted Fillet of Northumberland Beef Seated on parsnip mash with truffle jus and pea purée
Chargrilled Aubergine and Chick Pea Gateau Served with minted pea flan, thyme-roasted carrots and plum tomato salsa

DESSERT
Trio of Chocolate Dark chocolate & orange cheesecake, white chocolate ice cream and warm chocolate fondant

CHEESE COURSE
Make me Rich’ Farmhouse Cheese Selection Served with apricot chutney, dried fruit and nuts

COFFEE AND TEA
Freshly Brewed Coffee and Tea Petits Fours

A decade after they first appeared at the Cluny, and nearly five years since their last Tyneside gig, it's great to welcome back Led Bib.

The band's longevity is remarkable in at least two ways; they still have the original line-up (despite leader Mark Holub relocating to Vienna several years ago), and they continue to make music that sounds absolutely of the moment. Indeed, their most recent album 'The People in your Neighbourhood' was widely hailed as their finest yet; the review by critic Ian Mann was typical in saying "It's quite an achievement for a band to make it's best album some ten years into its career but that is what Led Bib have done".

What is also unchanged is the sheer vitality, the in your face urgency of their music that has drawn comparisons with artists as diverse as John Zorn, Miles Davis and Captain Beefheart . . . but it's now tempered with sweeping cinematic passages and moments of almost introspective beauty. This is a band that remains true to its roots, but blossoming into ever more creative variants. It's hard to imagine a more exhilarating way for Jazz North East to close its 2015 season.

For the final 2015 gig in Jazz North East's 'Splinter' strand of double bills we bring together two trios that could well strip the paint from the upstairs room at the Bridge.

Shiver is the group that guitarist Chris Sharkey formed after the demise of the iconic trioVD, and its energy makes the previous group seem like a genteel cocktail lounge ensemble. Getting together with long-time friend Andy Champion and drumming powerhouse Joost Hendrickx, they have developed an approach that moves way beyond the coventional guitar-bass-drums power trio, to create a seamless blend of garage rock, fractured dance music, full-blast improv, and much else besides. When they played their debut gig in October 2013, blogger Sid Smith described it as "inventive, thrilling, challenging, ecstatic, witty, dangerous, delightful, hard, authoritative, funny, aleatoric, gob-smacking, dazzling, momentous, motorik, fearsome, blistering, and marvelous". And it's got even better since then.

Support comes from an entirely new trio, put together by local bassist John Pope. John has been regularly singing the praises of York-based saxophonist Karl d'Silva (whose CV includes work with free jazz stalwarts Paul Hession and Dave Kane), so we said "OK John, bring him up", and this is the result. With drummer Christian Alderson, whose most recent JNE gig was with the tremendous Faye MacCalman Quartet, this has to be the most eagerly awaited new grouping since . . . well, the first appearance of Shiver.